Things to Do in Louisiana This Weekend
Here's a roundup of Louisiana events and activities happening this weekend.
Featured Festivals & Events in Louisiana
It’s fall, y’all! Fall in Louisiana brings cool evenings and warm gumbo. Festival season is in full swing, with parish fairs, fall festivals and football games filling the calendar. Get outside and explore our state parks, or stay indoors and discover one of Louisiana’s state museums.
Beauregard Parish Fair
October 6-10
DeRidder
The Beauregard Parish Fair marks its 97th year with livestock exhibits, a parade, a pageant, a baked-goods competition and a carnival with classic rides. This year's theme, "97 Years Rooted in Tradition, Growing the Future," celebrates the parish's agricultural roots and local heritage.
Local diners and cafes serve up old-fashioned Southern comfort in DeRidder. At Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, try the bayou filet, blackened or pan-fried fish smothered in shrimp étouffée; at Steamboat Bill’s, order the Cajun cooking sampler, featuring gumbo, étouffée and a rotating daily special.
Learn more about Beauregard Parish.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Lafayette
October 8-11
Equal parts food, music and crafts, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles celebrates Louisiana’s rich Acadian history with something for everyone. This three-day event includes a lineup of live music, craft vendors, workshops and culinary demonstrations of classic Creole and Cajun dishes by local chefs. Don’t miss the brand-new Scène ’76, a stage highlighting the interplay between South Louisiana music and other Americana traditions.
Can’t get enough live Cajun music? Catch a show at Blue Moon Saloon, where you can perfect your two-step with beloved local musicians, or snack on burnt ends and fried okra while enjoying performances by Cajun and zydeco bands at Hideaway on Lee.
Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
October 8-10
Zwolle
The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta upholds one of Louisiana’s finest culinary traditions: tamale-making. Attendees can learn to make their own tamales through hands-on demonstrations, then make a plate to enjoy. Witness an arm-wrestling contest, ride along gorgeous fall trails and marvel at vibrant Spanish costumes.
Keep the fun going at Cypress Bend Golf Resort, where lakefront sunsets gleam atop the reservoir. For a closer look at the area’s natural beauty, drive the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway, a 78-mile stretch of sprawling green land.
Learn more about Toledo Bend Lake Country.
Rescheduled: National Fried Chicken Festival
October 9-11
New Orleans
The National Fried Chicken Festival was rescheduled to Oct. 9-11 due to inclement weather. The Big Easy wouldn’t be one of the best food cities in the world without hosting the National Fried Chicken Festival, right? Experience a diverse food lineup — including vegan and vegetarian items — from the city’s best chefs, and catch performances by Nelly, 2 Chainz, Dillon Francis, the Ying Yang Twins and more.
For a quintessential New Orleans experience, a visit to the historic French Quarter is a must. Listen to lively tunes, sample fluffy, powdery beignets from Café Du Monde or visit the open-air stalls of the French Market.
Big Creek Trade Days
October 9-11
Dubach
Dubach’s swap-and-sell expo, Big Creek Trade Days, grew out of three friends’ love of all things local. Hunt for antiques, discover artisan goods and savor local culinary masterpieces.
Travelers can lodge on the grounds or camp at nearby Lincoln Parish Park, where some of America's top-rated mountain biking trails wind through forested greenspace. Lincoln Parish guests are welcome to bring pets, start campfires and use the grounds’ free Wi-Fi. City dwellers will enjoy venturing through 18 blocks of downtown Ruston.
Discover Ruston-Lincoln Parish.
Louisiana Gumbo Festival
October 9-11
Chackbay
It’s fall in Louisiana, and you know what that means — it’s gumbo season! And what better way to celebrate than at the Louisiana Gumbo Festival in the state’s official gumbo capital? Savor bowls of made-from-scratch seafood or chicken-and-sausage gumbo, then groove to all-day live music from artists like Heart n Soul, Good Feelin and Ryan Foret. Stick around for the Sunday-morning parade featuring Gumbo Festival royalty, local fire departments and more.
Learn about the area’s rich agricultural history at Laurel Valley Village Plantation, the largest surviving 19th- and 20th-century sugar plantation. Take a tour to learn about daily life on the plantation — and which movies were filmed on-site.
Explore Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.
Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend
October 9-11
Natchitoches
If laughter through tears is your favorite emotion — and pink is your favorite color — grab your girlfriends and head to Natchitoches for a three-day celebration of Dolly Parton’s unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in “Steel Magnolias.” The weekend begins with Dolly bingo and karaoke in downtown Natchitoches and includes a themed farmers market, local specials and a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery.
Love movies like “Steel Magnolias?" Extend your trip to explore the Louisiana Film Trail, with stops including filming locations for “12 Years a Slave” in Marksville and “Where the Crawdads Sing” in Houma.
Bayou Arts Fest
October 10
Houma
Downtown Houma comes alive for Bayou Arts Fest, with local singer-songwriters and the Culture Collective, showcasing the region's rich traditions and diversity, from Cajun and Creole to Vietnamese, Native American, and more. Kids get their own space, too, with local storytellers and an art-making zone.
On your way in, drive Houma’s Wetlands Cultural Trail for cypress-lined bayou views. Stop to tour Greenwood Gator Farm, where guides share their expertise on Louisiana’s most famous reptile.
Fall Fest Market & Car Show
October 10
Lake Charles
The Fall Fest Market & Car Show brings a burst of burnt orange to downtown Lake Charles. Check out the vintage cars, shop from local vendors and settle into the season, with live music and fresh coffee to start the day.
While in the area, take a scenic drive and soak up even more fall views along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a 180-mile trail through Louisiana’s Outback, a remote area encompassing untouched wetlands, small fishing communities, waterfowl wintering grounds, coastal marshes and more.
Gothic Jail After Dark Haunted Attraction
DeRidder
October 9-30
Every cell in DeRidder's historic Gothic Jail has a story, and not all of them ended well. Starting this weekend, step inside to hear about the people who perished within these walls. Skeleton guards will light your way through the dark corridors, shadows may start to whisper and the jail's deepest, darkest secrets await discovery. Here, paranormal activity runs rampant, and the walls hold memories.
Learn more about the Gothic Jail After Dark.
State Parks & Preserves
Statewide
Louisiana is home to state parks filled with fun family experiences. As temperatures fall and foliage turns, consider the state’s exciting hiking, biking and paddle trails. Or book a getaway at one of our lovely cabins.
Make Plans for Louisiana This Month
Whether it's one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.
